How to hire web developers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems. • Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media. • Develop databases that support Web applications and Web sites. • Evaluate code to ensure that it is valid, is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems. • Perform Web site tests according to planned schedules, or after any Web site or product revision. • Perform or direct Web site updates. • Select programming languages, design tools, or applications. • Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong critical thinking, reading comprehension, active learning, active listening, speaking and writing skills • Working knowledge of computers and electronics and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $44.54 an hour ($92,650 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for web developers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to develop databases that support Web applications and Web sites. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to evaluate code to ensure that it is valid, is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Tell me about something new you had to learn quickly for work. How did you learn it?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What web developers do
- Back up files from Web sites to local directories for instant recovery in case of problems.
- Design, build, or maintain Web sites, using authoring or scripting languages, content creation tools, management tools, and digital media.
- Develop databases that support Web applications and Web sites.
- Evaluate code to ensure that it is valid, is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems.
- Perform Web site tests according to planned schedules, or after any Web site or product revision.
- Perform or direct Web site updates.
- Select programming languages, design tools, or applications.
- Write supporting code for Web applications or Web sites.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for web developers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: +3.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 5,300 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay web developers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Washington | $130,440 |
| Virginia | $128,380 |
| California | $119,570 |
| Maryland | $112,690 |
| Missouri | $103,750 |
| Kansas | $73,590 |
| Oregon | $64,460 |
| Montana | $62,060 |
See web developers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Information Security Analysts
- Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Computer Network Support Specialists
- Computer User Support Specialists
- Computer Network Architects
- Database Administrators
- Database Architects
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Computer Programmers
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.